July 2, 2010

I'd have thought that whatever different types clouds exist here on earth, we've already seen and categorized them all. Looks like I was wrong. National Geographic says,

“These choppy clouds over Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in an undated picture could be examples of the first new type of cloud to be recognized since 1951. Or so hopes Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society.

“The British cloud enthusiast said he began getting photos of 'dramatic' and 'weird' clouds (including the above) in 2005 that he didn't know how to define.

“A few months ago he began preparing to propose the odd formations as a new cloud variety to the UN's World Meteorological Organization, which classifies cloud types. . . .” (continue reading)